The kind of family that makes you think, “ya know, I’m going to try and be a better person”.

For me, they were a magical combination of kids that get along even though they have different interests, engaging parents, peace, togetherness and open-mindedness. I know it sounds a bit poetic, but I really felt honored to have met them.

We hung around The Art Institute and Millennium Park for our session, not only because it’s a beautiful spot, but because it is meaningful to this family. The oldest is off to study art at college next year. Together we soaked up the city atmosphere, brisk spring air, a rambling saxophone tune in the distance, tourists passing by, busses steaming past, quiet sections of the Lurie Garden and with the Michigan Avenue skyline hanging unboastfully over the whole scene. See what effect they had on me?

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon.

Armed with a bag of animal crackers (or as his parents insist, “Animal crack. He is addicted to them.”) we diverted Dominic’s negative vibes by heading straight out the door and over to the woods. A few minutes of a new environment was all we needed before we were smiling away.

Thanks and kudos to Dominic and Genevieve’s parents for being calm and flexible. I cannot stress enough that parents really do set the tone for a family session.

I’m so glad to document this time your family — thanks!

It should be noted that big sister, Julianna, was apparently NOT too keen on this little sister dealio. So we took the baby upstairs and had our own little session with her. It was the first time Julianna agreed to hold Josephine. I love how her feelings about the baby are right there out in the open, and they change from “Seriously, I am not into this.” to “She’s ok. I guess”.

Moments like this are why I prefer shooting newborns in a client’s own home. It gives the opportunity to capture a bit of the time and place when a new baby joins the family. (I would also like to stress that there was an adult RIGHT THERE next to Julianna and Josephine THE WHOLE TIME — safety first when posing newborns!) Shooting in the home also gives a great range of documentary style images and posed newborn images.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. She was delightful.

We held this session downtown, partially in Millennium Park and partially off Michigan Avenue. I think every photographer in the tri-state area was in the park that day so I was so happy when everyone agreed to head over to the grove of trees next to the Art Institute.

For photogs: The grove of trees was DARK. This was a true case of pushing my equipment to it’s limits. These shots are iso 640 with a Nikon D700, 85mm, 1.4f.

I love that we captured posed pictures with grandma and grandpa as well as spontaneous images of the girls during the window of late afternoon light. (Photogs out there, can you say “natural rim light?”)

Oh, and the weather seems set to continue with this ridiculous gloriousness all weekend… pinch me.

This final image below I had to add in black and white, because color really doesn’t matter here. This is an image about what it feels like to be a mom. This is posted for any mom out there with little living, breathing bundles of energy clamoring all over you (physically climbing on you!), wanting you to share in their every moment, loving you, watching you, waiting for you and making your life unpredictable.

So many of the images that portrait photographers take are set up. Even those photographers who labels themselves as “lifestyle” or “candid” photographers go to great lengths to get things to look more spontaneous than they are in reality.

After wrapping up this extended family session, which included a large group portrait, smaller groupings and extra images of the children, I asked the family members to sit in a circle on the grass and talk with each other while I photographed them from a distance. They were happy to oblige! Using a 70-200mm lens, I walked in wide circles around the group several times for about ten minutes.

Yes, they knew they were being photographed. However, I was far enough away that they didn’t know when. I must admit that it seemed “wrong” to have my subjects face inwards and from the camera. How counterintuitive! At first, everyone was stiff and the conversation they made was a little forced. Some members of the circle were still keeping tabs on my location. But after a minute or so I could see them let down their guard. One toddler started cruising, the other wanted cheerios. Normal family life overtook the portrait session.

Considering this took only an extra ten minutes, required no special preparation, created the perfect complement to a set of portraits, and left everyone (including me) in a happy mood, I can’t wait to offer this to more families at the end of their sessions. NOT looking at the camera is great!

Extended family portraits are the hardest to orchestrate for both the client and the photographer. There are the extra logistics of coordinating many family schedules, a suitable location, and usually a wildcard toddler. Let’s not also forget that most extended sessions happen on weekend afternoons, when dads would really prefer to be out on the golf course, at home watching a football game, or catching up on odd jobs around the house.

I used to shy away from extended sessions but in the last few years I have done a 180. Soppy as it sounds, having a record of everyone in an image together truly is priceless. And of course after the main group portrait is shot, a family can spend time catching up together on a beautiful afternoon while I photograph smaller groupings and the children on their own.

Many thanks for a delightful afternoon!

And finally, I was thrilled to capture this “touching noses” moment between granddad and toddler while getting everyone in position for the extended family portrait.